Afghanistan's National Army recruits train to fight the Taliban

CaptionAfghan army recruits

Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Azizullah, 20, below, in his fifth week at the Kabul Military Training Center, goes through a weapons exercise. Azizullah and his first cousin Rahmatullah, not shown, are among many in their family in the armed forces. Both were encouraged to join by their fathers and uncles, Pashtuns from a...

Azizullah, 20, below, in his fifth week at the Kabul Military Training Center, goes through a weapons exercise. Azizullah and his first cousin Rahmatullah, not shown, are among many in their family in the armed forces. Both were encouraged to join by their fathers and uncles, Pashtuns from a... (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Rahmatullah, left, 21, and his cousin Azizullah, 20, go through weapons training at the Kabul Military Training Center. They are among many in their family in the armed forces. Soldiering pays about $155 a month for recruits and about $230 a month after they join a unit, better than anything...

Rahmatullah, left, 21, and his cousin Azizullah, 20, go through weapons training at the Kabul Military Training Center. They are among many in their family in the armed forces. Soldiering pays about $155 a month for recruits and about $230 a month after they join a unit, better than anything... (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

A new Afghan recruit is checked for ammunition after going through automatic rifle training at the Kabul Military Training Center as part of the concerted effort to avoid so-called insider attacks.

A new Afghan recruit is checked for ammunition after going through automatic rifle training at the Kabul Military Training Center as part of the concerted effort to avoid so-called insider attacks. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)